Teachers frustrated by new charter schools

Blue Light Lodge at Wairakei, which will be converted into a boarding school for 90 mainly Māori boys in Years 11 to 13. Photo / Blue Light Ventures

Launched by the Government, the two new schools in Rotorua, led by iwi Ngati Whakaue, and Taupo will target Māori students and open at the beginning of 2018.

New Zealand Post Primary Teachers’ Association regional chair Alex Le Long said they are disappointed because new charter schools won’t raise the achievement of our children.

She said the last thing they need is a corporate model of education forced upon them by out of touch ministers.

“The biggest issue is that our students are going to lose out because they are going to be fought over and they are going to be leaving schools that are already doing so much for them and going to these schools that may not necessarily be doing the best for them.”

Le Long said charter schools only reward mediocrity and they are a failing model as we have already seen in New Zealand.

She said these school openings mean less opportunity and success for students.

New Zealand First has also spoken out against the new schools dismissing them as corporate welfare.

Education spokeswoman Tracey Martin said the schools create the wrong incentives for education.

“There is no doubt that the single purpose from creating charter schools was to make a profit from the public purse.”

JUDE BARBACK visits New Zealand’s first partnership school, South Auckland Middle School, and talks to Alwyn Poole about the joys and challenges of getting a new school up and running amidst staunch opposition.